We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish

Image credit: rlcfchurch.org

by Deacon Steve Pitre

“We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish”

As we listen to the apostle’s response to Jesus statement, “…you give them something to eat,” do we hear ourselves saying the same thing from time to time? We may not say it like they did but I know I have said to myself, “I only have so many hours in the day and most of that is spent working, commuting and then with family.”

However one thing Jesus teaches them and us is that it is not about doing something extraordinary or requiring a lot of resources. Instead we are to do what we can in our own little way. The little we have in time or talent or treasure, if we offer it completely to our Lord, allow our Lord to do with it as God wishes, it will be more than enough and there will be an abundance left over.

It is when we recognize our own poverty and allow ourselves to be open to the people of God, especially people who are in need, that slowly our Lord transforms us. In our poverty we can bring dignity to others and in humility we can allow others to discover the person they are deep within, beyond the labels that society casts on them.

But there is more. For just as we can be present to them and give them dignity they too can feed us. If we listen closely in our hearts we can experience Christ’s presence in them and so become Christ’s body. Thus with their “five loaves and two fish” they can “feed” us.

Deacon Steve Pitre is the recently appointed Spiritual Advisor for the Newmarket Conference.